Flash Red: 1985-Style “XR680R” Backdate from Down Under…
Introduced some 25 years ago, the Honda XR650R is widely recognized as the greatest Baja bike ever built. Designed to succeed the air-cooled XR600R and dethrone Kawasaki’s two-stroke KX500, the aluminum-framed liquid-cooled monster would win eight consecutive runnings of the Baja 1000 with the legends like Johnny Campbell and Steve Hengeveld in the saddle.
With 61 bhp and a dry weight of just 278 pounds, the 650R is not to be confused with the street-legal air-cooled 650L. The “Big Red Pig” is a bike all its own — a weapon that still compares well with many modern machines.
Our new friend Peter Kendall grew up riding dirt bikes on a cattle station (aka ranch) in Western Queensland, where his love for 1980s Honda dirt bikes was born. The 650R was the successor to the iconic XR600R, but we’ve never seen anyone turn back the clock on a Big Red Pig to resemble its air-cooled ancestor…until now.
“I always thought that someone should do a 650R and backdate it to look like an ’85 XR600, so that is what we did. As most of these projects do it got a bit out of hand and we ended up pretty much modifying everything to the highest standard…”
Australia’s MXRP, who’ve provided race mechanics to Honda’s MX2 team and support many professional riders, carried out the engine build, and the specs (provided below) are jaw-dropping: MXGP Stage 2 race-prepped head, Carillo rods, Wiseco piston, Stage 2 cam, 11:1 compression…the list goes on. The engine was dynoed at 55.5 rear wheel horsepower — beefy!
The rest of the bike was stripped down to the bare frame. MPE Suspension revalved and resprung the forks and rear shock to desert racing spec, and this 650R is now rolling on a set of Excel rims. It has a hydraulic clutch conversion, CMT Compositi carbon engine covers and sump guard, heavy-duty pegs, a Trail Tech Vapor trip computer, and more high quality components. Rival Ink produced the custom 1985-inspired graphics for the all new UFO plastics, while Blue Dog Motorcycles came up with the blue seat cover.
The result is one monster pig with the nostalgic aura of the original “flash red” 1985 XR600R — in our opinion, the best-looking and most iconic Honda XR of all time. Kudos to Peter, his equipment manager David Sheppard, and the folks at MXRP as well as the various other shops and suppliers who made this bike a reality.
We never got to experience the historic battle of the Honda XR650R versus Kawasaki KX500 on the sands of Baja, but this Big Red Pig would surely have the Kawasaki looking over its shoulder at every bend…if not eating dust.
Below is our full in-depth interview with Peter about the build, including a detailed build list and dyno sheet. Enjoy!
Honda XR650R Backdate Restomod: Owner Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself and your history with motorcycles.
I grew up riding motorcycles on a cattle station (ranch) in Western Queensland; I think we had virtually every model of 80’s XR’s over the years from an 80 to 600.
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
The bike is a 2006 Honda XR650R.
• Why was this bike built?
I always loved the look and color scheme of the mid 80’s Hondas and thought that the XR650R could look way better than it did from factory by using an ’85 color scheme and old school graphics along with modern engine and suspension mods.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
What drove the restomod was my love of mid 80’s XR and CR Hondas as I grew up riding them. I always thought that someone should do a 650R and backdate it to look like an ’85 XR600, so that is what we did.
As most of these projects do it got a bit out of hand and we ended up pretty much modifying everything to the highest standard (with the exception of Öhlins suspension, which was only because we couldn’t find any correct forks or shock anywhere).
• What custom work was done to the bike?
Here’s a list of what MXRP Motorcycle Performance did to the engine in the XR680.
• Full strip down & vapour blast
• Cerakoted the covers pretty much back to OEM
• ISF super finish on all steel internals
• Replaced all bearings and seals
• Wurks Bolt Kit
• Stage 2 MXRP race prep on cylinder head which included porting, surface correction, custom MXRP copper beryllium valve seats, Kibble white valves, guides, springs & titanium retainers
• Stage 2 hot cam with Wiseco hd chain
• Carrillo rod kit with an 11:1 103.4mm Wiseco piston kit, a pro X big end and true balance
• Hinson billet clutch basket and Barnett super digger clutch kit
• Spectrum moto switchable CDI unit
• Mikuni TM42 Carburettor with low profile throttle body for tank clearance
• 2M Motors airbox frame kit with TwinAir filter
• XR’s Only hi flow side cover
• XR’s Only Race Team Edition reverse meg exhaust system
• Dyno and tune
This is what we did to the rest of the bike.
• Stripped back to bare frame
• Replaced all plastics with UFO except for fuel tank
• Trail Tech Vapour trip computer
• Custom 85 graphics done by Rival Ink
• Custom blue seat cover by Blue Dog Motorcycles
• MPE Suspension revalved/resprung forks and shock set up for desert racing
• Heavy duty Steg Pegz
• Magura Hymec Hydraulic clutch conversion
• Magura front brake master cylinder
• Pro Taper Bars
• Galfer brake lines and rear disc
• Moto Master Flame series front disc
• Super Sprox rear sprocket, Renthal Works chain
• Full Carbon kit from CMT Compositi
• Fastway side stand (modified KXF450 unit)
• All new silicon coolant hoses
• Kustom Hardware high capacity Radiators
• Barkbuster hand guards
• Excel Rims
• Does the bike have a nickname?
Ha Ha no not really, the general nickname for XR650’s though is Big Red Pig…
• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?
Dyno sheet below.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
The bike is awesome to ride despite being quite heavy. It has heaps of torque so it’s remarkably good on enduro tracks but its real strength is high speed desert racing.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
Probably the quality of the engine build that MXRP did; they did an outstanding job (and the fastway side stand we modified off a KXF450 lol, no one makes a modern billet stand for an XR so we had to improvise…)
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
Yes, my equipment manager and vintage bike enthusiast David Sheppard who sourced the bike and managed the build, MXRP who did the engine, MPE Suspension who did the shock and forks, Rival Ink who did the custom graphics, the MX Store, XR’s Only, CMT Compositi Carbon, and all the other various parts suppliers.
